Entering values automatically based on another cell

Hello all. First, I have a little experience with VBA and have done an Excel project in the past, but it has been a few years. I don't think I can do this with a function.

I am basically making an attendance sheet with Excel. We are trying to save trees, the planet, etc. So this in IMPORTANT! lol

I have 6 columns across.

SHIFT EMPLOYEE# NAME STATUS REASON SUPV

I have the validation working for SHIFT, which INDIRECTs the NAME and allows me shorten the NAME drop down.

What I want to do is. using NAME, automatically enter the EMPLOYEE #. I have the EMPLOYEE # entered already in an ajoining column of the data set used for the INDIRECT for the NAME.

Example:
Column A
SMITH, JOHN
DOE, JANE

ColumnB
123456
123457

I looked through the forum for awhile, but I can't find what I am looking for. If you can help me directly or help me by pointing me to a post that already exists, thanks in advance.

BTW, I lost my Excel for Dummies book.